20 



liouses, but the greater number resorted to tlie lakes, to spend tlie night among the 

 myrtles. ' About sunset,' he continues, ' they began to flock together, calling to each 

 other for that purpose, and in a short time presented the aj)pearance of clouds moving 

 towards the lakes, or the mouth of the Mississippi, as the weather and wind suited. Their 

 aerial evolutions before they alight are truly beautiful. They appear at first as if re- 

 connoitring the place ; when, suddenly throwing themselves into a vortex of apparent 

 confusion, they descend spirally with astonishing quickness, and very much resemble a 

 tromhe or water-spout. Wlien within a few feet of the driers, they disperse in all 

 directions, and settle in a few moments. Their twitterings, and the motion of their 



Avings, are, however, heard during the whole night The hunters who resort to 



these places destroy great numbers of them, by knocking them down with light paddles, 

 ixsed in propelling their canoes.' In another place, Audubon prints a note from Bach- 

 man, who states that on the 16th of October, 1833, in company with Dr. Wilson and 

 Mr. J. W. Audubon, he ' saw such an immense quantity of this species of bird that the 

 air was positively darkened. As far as the eye could reach, there were Swallows crowded 

 thickly together, and winging their way sovithward ; there must have been many 

 millions ! '" 



The Plate represents the old birds in summer and winter plumage, along with a 

 young individual. In the map the red colour exhibits the regular breeding-range, as 

 determined for us by Dr. Coues and Mr. Allen, and the yellow colour the migration and 

 winter range of the species ; the dotted space is also included by Mr. Allen in the 

 breeding-area of the species. We return our best thanks to both the above-named 

 gentlemen for the help they have rendered us in elucidating this difficult subject. 



